System and method for identifying a component, such as an optical probe or pneumatic scissors, of an ophthalmic surgical device. A component of a surgical device includes an identifier (102), such as a RFID tag. Data from the RFID tag is transmitted to a RFID reader in the device. A controller (115) determines whether the component corresponding to the received data is operable with the surgical device based on criteria, such as whether the received data is an authorized code that matches data stored in memory or whether the received data solves or satisfies an algorithm. The authorized codes are selected from a larger set of available codes. The controller enables or disables the operation of the device with the component based on whether the criteria is satisfied, the number of uses of the component, an amount of time that has passed since the component has been used, or a geographic location. The RFID data can also be used to calibrate the surgical device for use with the particular component and for inventory and monitoring purposes.